Form-collating means



v yy V @72.2. v Y /zmf .i1 j y if )9- lll IHIN -J mur HHN "IHM" i is Patented N ov. 19, i929 i FRANKLIN o. Grinsen, or FAIRFAX couirr, vineiiviA, Assieivon To ELLIOTT-FISHER T omer, j

COMPANY, A CORPOIRfJ-UIION'y 0F DELAWARE FonM-coLLATiNG MEANS" Application led April 12,`

This invention relates to form collating means and its object is to provide means whereby a plurality of forms or Work-sheets may be quickly collated on a flat platen or other surface.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the platen of an Elliott-Fisher billing machine illustrating one application of my invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed vievv showing the manner in which the form and locator are related as the form is being moved from one line position to another.

Figure 3 is a similar view with the form moving to its located position.

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing another form fully located at the opposite side of the platen.

The Elliott-Fisher bookkeeping machine of commerce, a fragment only of which is shown, includes a platen (1) mounted on a platen frame, the side rails (2) and (2a) of which constitute tracks or guides for the traveling. printing mechanism and also serve as alinement guides for the forms or Work-sheets (4:) and (5) Which in the arrangement shown` are a statement sheet, a ledger sheet and a proof sheet. 1 This grouping of forms is only one of many forms of sheet collation utilized in these machines and capable of collation in accordance with my invention. Associated With the forms aie strips (6) and (7") of carbon or other transfer material which in this instance` are disposed longitudinally of the platen.

The forms are retained by clamps (8) and (9) extending inwardly from 'the guides `(2) and (2a) and over the edges of certain forms. The platen is depressible to release the forms from the clamp and to permit their removal replacement or adjustment after Which the platen is raised to again clamp the forms.

Obviously, as the traveling printing mechanism prints along predetermined line locations, the Work-sheets must be accurately collated, both with reference to each other, and to the line locations of the machine. It is the object of this invention to facilitate such collation. v Y

Extending inwardly from the opposite 1926. Serial No.'101,596.

vguides (2) and.(2) arelocators(10)and and a locking face (14). The end`(15) of the teeth (12) and the bott-oms (16) of the interdental spaces (17) rbeing curved as shown.l These locators are arranged at opposite sides of the platen and are inclined in opposite directionsso that the forms located by different locators Will move in different directionsin seeking their positions of location.

Each" form is provided Wit-h a locating margin defined by alterna-ting inclined teeth (18) and interdental spaces (19) conformingv in size and contour iviththe teeth and interdental space of the Vadj acent locator. i That is to saythe teeth or projections ofthe form conform to the-space ors'paces ofthe locator and the tooth or teeth of the 'locator cone formto the interd/ental spaces ofthe forni.

l It will be'noted byre-ference to Fig. 2, that, by reason of the angular relation of the straight guiding edges .of the form and locato-nthe form may be readily moved in one directionwvith 'reference to the locator, lateral yielding of the form being necessary to permit the projections of the fornito pass the teeth of the locator. This movement of the form brings it to approximately the location desired.v If now the form isr drawn back as shown in Fig. 3, its )projections lWill engage the teeth ofthe locator and the form Will be cammed into its accuratelylocated position. ln this position the form is lockedan'd Will resist. a lateral pull on the form', Which, in order to yield laterally must move longitudinally. By reason of this unusual relation the vteeth of the locator really Vconstitute hooks, since they necessitate movement of the form in two directions in order to disengage it. Necessarily, the teeth of the` cooperating form and locator` are oppositely disposed.

It will be noted by reference to Figuresl, 2 and 4l, that the teeth ofthe locators disposed at opposite sides of the Writing surface are inclined in opposite directions. This is Aan important feature of the invention because this reverses'the directionsninwhich forms l tion andi is then by slight movement fully located and lockedV against movement in the Y opposite direction as well as against lateral movement. If now, a sheet is imposed on the 'located sheet and shifted along the opposite locator its movement will be in a direction in which the irst sheet cannot move and thereforefree movement of the second sheet in the act of properly locating it on the platen 4will not dislocate the sheet with which it is in 'frictional contact. f

p Obviously, it is unimportant in what direction the respective locators 'are disposed. That is a matter of choice according to the particular direction in whichit is most convenient or desirable to move the various sheets, relative one to another. Itis equally sitely inclined with respect to the teeth of the other series whereby said forms are held against free longitudinal movement in the same direction to prevent movement of one form by free movement of the other.

In testimony whereof 'I have :alflxed' my signature.

FRANKLIN c. GiBsoN.

obvious, thatthe teeth of opposite locators may be disposed to-permit locating movement of all of the sheets in the same direction and to lock all of them by movement in the reverse direction. `Also the number of teeth ron each locator'may be increased or diminished without departing from the spirit of Y the invention.

What `I claim is: .7. l.' Form locating means including a form and a locatorV having respectively inclined teeth "adapted to interlock and thereby resist transverse movement ofthe form away from thelocator.

2. In combination, a locator, a form movablek transversely and longitudinally of the locator, and inclined teeth on the locator and form respectively adapted to effec-t camming Vofthe form toward the locator by pressure exerted longitudinally of theform and to interlock to therebv resist transverse movement of the form away from the locator and also preventlongitudinal movement of the form in one vdirection while permitting free move- Vmentof theiform in substantially the opposite direction. A Y Y l '3. ASheet collating means including a pair oi'' forms for use in superposed relationiwith a platen mechanism of the type including, a margin guide anda locator adjacent each side edge of the platen, each form having along one side 'edge a seriesof locatorA engaging lteeth lforfreceivin'g said locators therebetween,

said teeth being inclined with respect to said side edgesIwh-ereby `said sheets when moved `longitudinally are cammedv into engagement `with saidjguidcs and held against further movement in the same longitudinal direction `'while freely `movable in the oppositejdirecv tion, and the'teeth oli' on'e'series being oppo'- 

